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Choose a digital products platform around your constraints
A digital products platform should fit how you get paid, deliver files and support customers—not just how attractive the storefront looks. Before comparing features, check your country, business identity and available payment providers. Eligibility and payout rules can determine whether a platform is usable at all.
The comparison below uses provider information checked on October 9, 2026. Fees, eligibility and features can change. Verify current terms before making a decision; this article does not claim that either service supports every seller or jurisdiction.
Compare the cost structure, not one headline percentage
Gumroad’s pricing page describes no monthly charge and separate fees for direct and Discover sales. Payhip lists a free plan with a 5 percent platform transaction fee, a 29-dollar monthly plan with 2 percent, and a 99-dollar monthly plan without a platform transaction fee. Payhip states that PayPal or Stripe fees still apply on all plans.
Model costs using your own expected order value and sales volume. Include payment processing, currency conversion, refunds and any external software. Do not assume no platform transaction fee means no cost. A spreadsheet scenario is a planning assumption, not a revenue forecast.
Understand the tax role precisely
Gumroad describes itself as merchant of record and says it handles applicable sales-tax collection and remittance. Payhip says it automatically collects and remits EU and UK VAT and supports configuration and reporting of other taxes. These are different responsibilities, not interchangeable claims.
Platform handling of transaction taxes does not eliminate every business registration, income-tax or recordkeeping obligation of the seller. Confirm your own duties with a qualified adviser. Avoid promising customers tax treatment that you have not verified.
Test delivery and the customer experience
Create an authorized test purchase before launch. Check the receipt, download access, supported file size, failed-payment behavior and how a customer obtains help. For versioned files, verify whether existing buyers can receive an update and what communications they will see.
Review refund controls, access revocation and accessibility of the buying path. Use original or appropriately licensed products and accurate previews. Do not send customers into a workflow you have only inspected as an administrator.
Check ownership and exit options
- Can you export product and order records in a usable format?
- What customer data can be exported, and what consent limits apply?
- Who controls the domain, files and integrations?
- What happens to delivery links if the account is suspended or closed?
- How will support and records continue during a move?
Keep independent copies of your source files and business records. Assess portability before it becomes urgent. A hosted service can reduce maintenance work, while a self-managed store may add responsibilities for security, backups and updates.
Common questions
Which is cheapest? That depends on sales volume, order value, payment costs and the required features. Does a merchant of record handle my personal income tax? Do not assume so. Should I migrate immediately for a lower fee? Include testing, operational disruption and recordkeeping in the decision.